Written by Mahaley Wise

Wednesday night’s game between the Thunderbolts and Braves was a battle, as both teams produced big innings and powerful at-bats. Ultimately, the Braves secured the victory with two home runs and a big fourth inning rally, winning 10-7. 

The Thunderbolts took the first lead of the game in the third inning with two runs over the Braves. Jack Hurda (Clarion) was the first to reach base on an error by the second baseman. Matthew Kim (Frederick CC) followed with a single to advance Hurda to third and put a runner in scoring position. A single by Tyson Gil (Clarion) sent Hurda home for the first run of the inning. A pitch clock violation by the Braves loaded the bases for the Thunderbolts. Brayden Foster (Youngstown State) hit a sacrifice fly to left field, bringing Kim in to score. 

Nich Francuzenko (Towson University) responded with a solo home run in the third inning, cutting the Thunderbolts lead in half. It was a small victory for the Braves, which they celebrated vigorously. As Francuzenko trotted around the bases with ease, his team poured onto the field with chants and cheers. 

The Braves came into the fourth inning with power, taking the lead with five runs. Charlie Brinkman (Liberty) started on the basepaths with a double to the left field wall. A single by Trent Adleman (VCU) put runners on the corners. Connor Doherty (Delaware) swung at the first pitch, making good contact as the ball soared through the sky. A scream came from the Braves' dugout, commanding the ball to get out, and over the wall it went. The runners lined up on the bases running in unison on their path home. Doherty clapped his hands ecstatically applauding himself for the big hit, but his team was clapping louder as they took the lead two runs ahead of the Thunderbolts. 

Now up 3-2 after the home run, South County kept the scoring in fourth inning. Not the least bit overshadowed by Doherty’s home run, the team cheered the extra security run keeping the spirits of the inning high. Franklin Gomez Jr. (Fairleigh Dickinson) doubled, and a single by Francuzenko sent him home. 

The Braves kept battling through the fourth inning pushing runners around the bases. The Braves worked their way around the lineup as Charlie Magoulick (Rider) came back to bat his second time striking a single. A fazed Thunderbolts pitcher, with bases loaded, walked Brinkman to score Francuzenko. The damage continued as a wild pitch sent Tony DiChiara (Monmouth) home to score yet another run. A hit by pitch continued to rattle the Thunderbolts as Magoulick came in to score. The Braves walked away with eight additional runs, making the score 9-2. 

The Thunderbolts started to close the gap in the sixth inning, scoring two runs. Foster started with a lead off walk, followed by a single from Nolan Kutney (UMBC). Caleb Stuetrevant (Millersville) delivered a single to send in the first run of the inning. A wild pitch allowed the second run to score with smart baserunning by Kutney. Hurda worked a walk to cycle the runners around the bases, scoring another run. The bases remained loaded for the Thunderbolts when Kim hit a go-ahead single to send Stuetrevant home. 

The Braves were finally able to break the cycle, earning their first out of the sixth inning, but not before another run could score. The Thunderbolts followed with two more outs not allowing the Braves to score any more runs. However, the Thunderbolts had significantly damaged the Braves lead making it a close game, now 9-7

The Braves added to their lead in the bottom of the sixth inning with one run. Kyndall Cassidy (Ouachita Baptist) worked a walk to start the inning. He was brought home on a single from Aleksei Goldhill (Bryant). The Braves hoped this lead would be enough to keep the Thunderbolts at bay. 

The extra run proved to be enough for the Braves against the Thunderbolts as no more runs were scored in the game. The Braves walked away with the victory after their big fourth inning comeback.